General faces axing over BNI probe

General faces axing over BNI probe

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

National Police operations chief Brig. Gen. Samuel Ismoko will
face a disciplinary hearing and possible dismissal if found to
have violated the police's code of ethics during the BNI
investigation.

Ismoko, the former head of the National Police's fraud squad
who led the investigation into the Rp 1.7 trillion scam at Bank
Negara Indonesia, is also facing criminal charges for allegedly
accepting bribes from Adrian Herling Waworuntu, one of the key
suspects in the scandal.

Deputy chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Dadang Garnida said on
Wednesday investigators had found evidence Ismoko abused his
position and rank to provide special privileges to Adrian during
the investigation.

Although Dadang declined to say exactly what Ismoko was
accused of, he said his team had found enough evidence to bring
Ismoko to a disciplinary hearing.

"Right now we are waiting for the supervisor in charge (chief
of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung) to decide when the
hearing will take place," Dadang said.

Adrian slipped out of the country earlier this year after
allegedly paying bribes to Ismoko.

He surrendered to police in October and his trial is now
underway at the South Jakarta District Court.

Another key suspect in the case, Maria Pauline Lumowa, is
still at large.

If Ismoko is found guilty at the hearing, he could face
dismissal from the force for indiscipline and violating the
police's code of ethics.

"We will start to investigate the criminal charges against
Ismoko next week," Dadang said.

Ismoko was cleared internally of bribery charges two months
ago after the internal affairs division failed to present
evidence to support the allegations.

"Criminal acts have to be tried publicly even if they are
committed by a police officer," Dadang said.

He said it would take several weeks to investigate the
criminal charges because officers had to prepare detailed reports
on the charges.

The head of the National Police's internal affairs division,
Insp. Gen. Suprijadi, who is also a member of the team
investigating Ismoko, said he strongly suspected Ismoko was
involved in bribery.